Wound Care

Taking care of a wound is critical for your overall health and well being. The faster the healing, the sooner you can go back to living a normal life. Finding the correct and best wound care product is the first step in caring for your wound and helps expedite its healing process.The right product for your need could be anything from basic first aid requirements and wound preps to compression bandages, gauze dressings, suture removers, medical gloves, odor control products and wound cleansers. Some extensive wounds may require dressing retainers, tapes, absorbent, sterile and non-sterile abdominal pads and a variety of eye pads that are safe and reliable.

How to care for a wound

How to take care of your wound is important. There may be wounds that heal fast and there may be those that are difficult to treat. The major element that may pose a hurdle to healing is infection. An infected wound will bring in further complications and can take very long to heal. Keeping the wound area moist and covered for several days will promote wound healing. Wounds with heavy exudate need to be kept drier while at the same time maintaining the right moisture level.

There are various products designed to differently handle a simple gash, infected wounds as well as difficult-to-treat ones. Several concerns associated with wounds exist such as wound infection care, wound skin care, after-surgery wound care and how to take care of a deep wound, etc.

An important element in wound care is the dressing. There is a huge range in dressings with each defined for a specific function.

Wound dressings do not heal but provide the conditions for healing. Dressings are designed to allow the natural healing process of the body by providing an optimal healing environment. There are wound dressings that absorb heavy exudate but also maintain the right level of moisture for the wound to heal. There are dressings that initiate autolytic debridement promoting growth of new tissues.

An awareness of the dressing attributes and your wound type will help you in the selection of the right dressing and manage your wound effectively.

Available are various types of wound dressings such as hydrogel dressings, alginate dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, transparent dressings, honey dressings, foam dressings and others. Each type is designed to treat varying levels of exudates and stages of wound.

Choosing a wound dressing will depend on three factors - wound type, its healing stage and location. Other than these, before selecting a wound dressing you will also have to keep in mind certain points –how dry or wet the wound is; will the dressing be used under compression; is the skin fragile; how cost effective it is, etc. A wound dressing may be key in wound care but is not the only product. To dress up a wound there are several other elements needed.

First aid items and kits are a must-have in every home, school, office and should be a part of your luggage while on a trip. These are for treatment of minor injuries and might even be used for temporary relief in case of emergencies.

Medical gloves are essential for handling a wound. Types of exam gloves or medical gloves include examination, surgical, burn and therapy gloves. There is a choice in material, texture and color. You can choose your exam gloves from textured, lightly textured or smooth. They are available in latex, non-latex, nitrile and vinyl with powder and powder-free. Sterile and non-sterile options are also there in exam gloves.

Before applying a wound dressing, it is essential to prep the wound site. For this you need wound prep products. These will keep the wound free of infections and prepare the environment for healing. Keeping a wound clean and learning how to clean an infected wound or clean a deep cut with these items is important. Antiseptic skin cleansers, prep pads and swabs, prepping balls, hydrogen peroxide and iodine solutions, adhesive tissues and Oat Beta-Glu can cream are all made by recognized manufacturers. Also to be found are wound measuring kits, applicators, moisture barriers, wound irrigation systems, drainage trays, wipes, sponges and more. Top-line manufacturers featured include Medline Industries, Dynarex Corporation, Nice Pak, Covidien, Hollister and more.

Gauze is meant to provide protection and cushion to the wounds and is a common wound prepping product. Available are woven/non-woven, cotton/polyester sponges from recognized brands. There are drain and IV sponges, packing strips, self-adhering and non-adhering pads, cover sponges, sterile and non-sterile sponges and more, all at great prices. Top quality gauzes are available from brands like Kendall, Avant Gauze and Bioguard.

Taking care of a wound also involves ensuring the skin around the wound site is free of infections and aids in healing. Using the right skincare products will ensure a healthy skin. There are protective creams and ointments, antimicrobial/antifungal products, moisture barriers, moisturizers/skin conditioners, skin cleansers as well as odor eliminators. These will contribute towards an optimal healing environment.

Abdominal pads form an integral part of wound care because they are highly absorbent and provide padding and protection to wounds. There are top brands like Kendall and Caring with options in sizes and drainage intensity to suit all types of wounds.

Also useful are sterile absorbent cotton filler eye pads designed to protect the eye against harmful rays, infectious dirt and pollutants. These are found particularly handy after a minor eye surgery.

Compression bandages are used in the management of venous leg ulcers (read Treatments for Venous Ulcers) through application of sustained graduated compression. The Una Boot compression bandages use an application of a non-hardening zinc oxide paste in the treatment of venous stasis leg ulcers and skin graft on burn wounds.

There are several types of tapes and bandages without which wound care would be incomplete. The latter support a wound dressing and hold splints and IVs in place. There are lint-free and latex-free bandages along with packing strips, arthro-pads and gauze rolls for burns.

Tapes have miscellaneous usage in wound care and are available in different material type like silk, soft cloth, paper, porous, silicone, foam, plastic and waterproof. They are conformable and soft yet with strong adhesive to ensure safe taping.

Odor control is important during wound management. There could be odor issues associated with urine, feces, emesis and necrotic tissues or because of biological problems. Fresheners from MEDI-Aire, April Fresh and Enzymatic Rain are available.

Featured here are only leading brands who have long established themselves in the field of wound care and their product range is wide and varied. Top brands include Curad, Alba Botanica, SensiCare, Optifoam, Remdey, Restore and TriDERMA.

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